UK News 18-02-2005 who: Tony Blair what: Confronted by mother of autistic boy during live TV debate where: BIRMINGHAM when: Wednesday snippet: As Mr Blair took to the campaign trail in earnest this week, Maria Hutchings from Essex managed to get the prime minister to guarantee her a private audience at the end of Five`s The Wright Stuff, reports The Times. She fought her way in front of the cameras to take issue with the government`s policy of closing special schools in order to integrate children with special needs into mainstream classes. Doctors had told her that her son, John Paul, would never learn to talk properly, read or write, but he had had outshone all expectations at special school. Meanwhile, James Blitz of The Financial Times comments that the campaign so far has been overwhelmed by the presence of the PM, with the Cabinet - and in particular Gordon Brown - slinking into the shadows. [... more]

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